Self-supporting concrete form



0121. 29, 1935. s psoN 2,019,195

SELF SUPPORTING CONCRETE FORM Filed March 28, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jim/ENTER .EE SIMPS CLN' JTTUJQNEYS.

Patented Oct. 29, 1935 UNETED STATES iATENT oFFic Claims.

An object and feature of my invention is a form for concrete walls, partitions, angles, and the like, in which the form members on opposite sides of the walls and partitions and corners are 5 constructed on individual sheet metal plates.

These plates on the inside and outside of the walls are secured together by bolts, which bolts pass through tubular spacers, the spacers engaging the inside face of the sheets determining the thickness of the wall.

A further object and feature of my invention is constructing the concrete form by which first a lower tier of form plates are built up longitudinally of the wall and overlap at their vertical joints, then, when the wall is partly poured and is still below the level of the upper edge of the lower tier of metal plates forming the form, an upper tier of similar plates is fitted to the lower tier. The plates of the upper tier overlap internally at the upper edge of the lower tier of plates at a horizontal joint.

A further feature of my invention resides in the location of the bolts and spacing tubes so that the main bolts and these tubes at the upper edge of one tier and the lower edge of an upper tier engage four thicknesses of the metal plates, thus forming a stiff corner intersection for the individual plates, allowing the metal plates to be comparatively thin.

A further feature of my invention is in making all of the metal plates which are built up into the form substantially of the same size for straight Walls and having the same characteristics as to punch holes to receive the bolts. In addition, the upper edge of each plate is provided with an out-turned flange or lip which is used as a reinforcing element. This lip is flush with one vertical edge of the plate, but terminates short of the opposite vertical edge by having a cut-out notch. This is for the purpose of allowing the proper overlap of the plates at the vertical joints of the different plates. On account of this vertical and horizontal overlapping of the plates at both the vertical and horizontal joints, the poured wall has a slight difference of thickness contiguous to these joints, but as the walls and partitions are intended to be finished by a coat of plaster or finished cement, this slight difference of thickness and the angular jogs in the wall which are the thickness of one, two or three plates, is immaterial, as the minimum thickness of the wall is always regulated by the length of the spacing tubes, and moreover, the slight offset sections of the wall operate efiectively in forming both horizontal and vertical shoulders which aid in binding the finished coat to the wall or partition.

Another characteristic of the individual form plates is that for straight walls, these are rectangular and have vertical slots extending up- 5 wardly from the lower edge to accommodate the bolts and space tubes engaging the lower edge portion of the upper plate, Spaced downwardly from the upper edge of each plate and adjacent each corner there are punch holes to accommo- 10 date tie bolts which hold the upper edge .or section ofthe plates in position. The punch holes are only of sufficient diameter to accommodate the tie bolts, and the spacing tubes, being of greater diameter than these holes, contact and engage the inside of each opposite mold forming sheet or plate.

When a series of plates are assembled to form a wall or partition, the flanges or lips are on contiguous plates in a horizontal line contact. The purpose of these flanges or lips is to strengthen the forms longitudinally. I

Another feature of my invention relates to the formation of angles in which case the metal plates or sheets are bent to the desired angle on the corners of the walls .orpartitions, or the junction of a wall with a partition but in this case, the outside sheet has the flanges bent outwardly at the top in reference to the corner, the inside form sheets at the corner are bent inwardly towards the inside of the corner but outside having reference to the finished surface of the wall or partition at the corner. In no circumstances do the flanges or lips extend into the mold plates in which the concrete is poured.

Another purpose of the slots at the lower edge of the individual plates is so that an upper tier of plates may be slipped inside of the upper portion-of a. lower tier and engage the same bolts and spacing tubes used to instal and hold the next lower tier of plates adjacent their upper edge.

A further characteristic feature of my invention is that intermediate or secondary tie bolts and spacing tubes are used through the center portions of individual opposite plates and thus prevent the outward bulging of such plates even when made of light material.

Another feature of my invention is in the manner :of tying the various tiers of metal forms to the foundation and to the lower tiers. The lower tier is first tied to the foundation by wires embedded in the foundation concrete and attached to the lower and upper spacing tubes. Then, when upper tiers are placed on lower tiers of forms, the upper spacing rods of an upper tier v.

are wired to the upper bolts of the lower tier thus securely tying the various tiers in position before pouring the concrete. As the wall is built up the lower tier plates are removed and used in upper positions. The various plates are made in different lengths in accordance with the design of the wall.

My invention is illustrated in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a section of straight wall showing my moldform in position and illustrating, at the end, a vertical section through horizontal and vertical joints of the individual plates.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an individual form plate sheet.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of two angle form plates for forming an angle in a wall, or junction of a wall, and a partition.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through form plates assembled for the molding of a wall in an adjoining partition.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of the assembly of form plates for molding a corner in a wall.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 66 of Fig. 1 illustrating the intersection of plates at vertical and horizontal joints.

Fig. '7 is a transverse section showing a modification for molding circular walls such as silos.

Referring first to the construction of an individual form plate or sheet designated by the numeral H of Fig. 2, this has a bottom or lower edge 12, an upper edge l3, a vertical side edge I4, and another vertical side edge l5. When looking at the front or outside elevation of the individual plate there is an outwardly projecting flange or lip I6 bent outwardly from the top l3. One end I! of this flange is flush with the vertical edge l5, the other edge l8 of this flange being spaced inwardly from the opposite vertical edge M on account of the cut-out section if! of the flange Hi. This cut-out section may be either on the right or left hand side of each plate. All of the plates have the cut-out notch represented by the dimension number IS in the flange in the same side, and it should be the same size. The dimension of the size of the notch l9 regulates the vertical overlap of the plates when assembled to form horizontal tiers of mold plates.

Slots 20 extend upwardly from the lower edge l2. These are vertical and thus parallel to the side edges [4 and I5. They are spaced inwardly from the side edges a measurement distance 2!, which is one half of the measurement distance I9 of the cut-out notches of the flanges l6. These slots 20 terminate at distance 22 from the lower edge l2 which represents approximately half the overlap of plates of an upper tier relative to those of a lower tier when assembled to form a wall form.

Adjacent the corner of the upper edge l3 and the sides [4 and i5 there are two bolt holes 23. These bolt holes are spaced downwardly from the upper edge 13 a distance 24 which is the same as the distance measurement 22 of the slots 20, although, of course, these measurements may differ, if desired. One or more center perforations 25 is provided in each mold plate or sheet H.

In assembling the sheets, spacing tubes and tie bolts 26 are inserted through the notches 20 and. the perforations 23 and 24 from side to side of opposite form plates. The perforations and the slots are of such diameter as to accommodate the tie bolts. Spacing tubes 21 through which the tie bolts extend are of such a diameter that they cannot pass through the perforations or the slots 20 and thus engage the inside surface of the form plates while the bolt head and the bolt nut engage the outside of these plates. If desired, washers may be used on the bolts underneath the head and the nut.

In building up a straight wall, the foundation member 28, (note Fig. 1,) is formed in the ground 29 and has preferably a shoulder 30 at approximately the ground level 3| or slightly below this 10 level. Two timbers 32 extend longitudinally of the wall on each side and rest on these shoulders.

The tie bolts 33 extend through these timbers and.

have spacing tubes 21 thereon. These bolts necessarily are longer than the bolts 26 used between 15 the form plates. The lower tier 34 of form plates are then fitted vertically with their lower portions inside the timbers 32. The bolts 33 extend upwardly in the slots 20 to the limit of these slots and thespacing tubes engaging the inside sur- 20 face of the form plate adjacent its lower edge. The plates are overlapped, forming a vertical joint 35 so that the right hand edge I5 of the first plate from the left (note Fig. 1), of the lower tier is located beneath the second plate to the 5 right of this tier, etc. This gives a vertical joint of the width between the edges l4 and I5 marked in Fig. l, and this is equivalent to the measurement distance [9 of the notch in the flange Hi.

In order to properly tie the various tiers of 30 form plates, tie wires 36-3'| are secured to an anchor 38 in the foundation, the tie Wire 36 being illustrated as being fastened to the lower spacing rod through which extends the bolt 21, and the wire 31 is secured to the upper spacing 35 tubes of the lower tier of plates. These wires are usually attached as the form is built up, two opposite sheets at a time. Then, for upper tiers tie wires 38 connect the upper spacing tubes of a lower tier with the upper spacing tubes of an 40 upper tier. This securely fastens the lower tiers in place before the concrete is poured. The various form plates are made of different lengths, that is, the upper and lower edges are of different lengths for different sheets so that a whole wall section may be made with the assembled plates extending from end to end of the wall.

Someof the plates therefore will be quite long and others much shorter. The framing for windows, doors, or other openings may be enclosed by the plates and thus the openings are properly molded in the concrete. If it is desired to leave hollow spaces in the wall to accommodate electric, water fixtures or drain pipes, blocks or boards may be attached to the inside face of the desired mold form plates by bolts, or the like, or in places, wood side forms may be substituted for the metal plates.

In forming corners, a corner of two connecting walls may be made as illustrated by the forms 30 shown in Fig. 3 in which an outside form plate 39 is bent to form the outside corner 40. In order to strengthen the corners, an angle 4| is preferably located immediately below the flange It and welded or otherwise secured to such flange. In addition, if desired, a reinforcing strip 42 may also be secured to the outside of the corner form plate. These outside corner plates are provided with slots at the bottom and bolt holes at the top and inner corner plates terminate short of one of the vertical edges.

A corner connection is illustrated in horizontal section in Fig. 5. A partition connection to be made from a wall is illustrated in Fig. 4 in which the outside mold form plates 45 form the outer surface of the wall and the inside plates 46 form the inside. There are then two inside angle plates ll and 48. This leaves spaces 49 for the wall and 5E! for the partition.

In constructing the walls it will be understood that a suitable reinforcing metal may be embedded in the concrete. This is located in the form plate before the concrete is poured, or some of it inserted as the concrete is poured in the mold.

It is not necessary that the vertical joints on the inside and outside be directly opposite, for instance, as shown in Fig. 4, there may be an inside overlapping vertical joint 51 and directly opposite this there is a continuous sheet or plate 52 with a bolt hole for the tie bolt. This sheet 52 may terminate at a vertical joint 53 on the outside and the inside plate 54 forming a. partition to be continuous.

In some cases, in forming a wall, it is not intended to coat this with a finished coat; I find it desirable to use inserted washers 55, which may be of fibre or similar material, and these engage the ends of the spacing tubes and the inside surface of the form sheets; thus, after the form plates are removed, the washers may be extracted from the wall, leaving recesses at the ends of the spacing tubes, which recesses may be plastered with concrete. This prevents the ends of the spacing pipes being exposed on the wall and causing rust marks, or the like.

In making a circular object such as a silo as illustrated in Fig. '7, the outside mold designated 56 is formed of a plurality of sheets such as 5l-5l" in which the sheets 51 are indicated as outside plates forming an overlapped vertical joint 58. The inside mold form 59 is likewise formed of alternate curved plates in which the plate 60 is indicated as being located inside of the plate 69 forming vertical overlapping joints iii. In this construction the tie bolts and spacing tubes indicated at 63 form different radii and the bolts pass through the overlapping vertical joints and also the tie bolts pass through a center bolt hole in either the inner or outer plates. This arrangement of staggering the vertical joints stiffens the form as a whole. However, the vertical joints can be on the same radial line, if desired, on the inside and outside. It is also obvious that the general construction should be as shown in the straight walls in which one edge of the plate could be on the outside and the other edge on the inside of the. ends of adjacent sheets. Before constructing a silo it is simpler to have one sheet lap on the outside of the adjacent sheets. In forming a mold for circular objects such as silos, it is not necessary to have a flange such as I3 as the circular shape is sufficiently stiff.

A characteristic of the standard plate such as illustrated in Fig. 2 which I use in making the side of a mold for a flat wall'or similar construction resides in part, in the spacing of the bolt holes 23 from the upper corners of the plate and the spacing of the slots 20 from the vertical side edge and the length of these slots from the lower edge of the plate. The bolt holes and the slots are spaced by the measurement 2! from the vertical side edges [4 and I5 of the plate and this measurement 2| is half the measurement of the notch H3 cut in the flange or lip it. Therefore, when the plates are assembled on the bolts passing through the bolt holes 23 andtthrough the slots 253, the two plates overlap by the measurement distance H] which is twice the measurement distance 2 l. account of the measurement distances 24 and 22 being the same when an upper plate is supported on the bolts at the upper corners of the lower plate, the horizontal overlap of the plates is twice the measurement 22 or 24. Thus, when the plates 10 are built up in horizontal tiers there is a substantial vertical overlap of adjacent plates of the same tier. This forms an overlap of two plates but when an upper tier is formed in connection with the lower tier there is also a substantially l5 horizontal overlap of the joints between the lower and upper tier, which, as above mentioned, is twice the measurement 22 or 24. Hence, in the mold for a wall at joints intermediate the ends of the wall there are four plates overlapping at the 20 corners having the bolt holes 23. Therefore, by this overlappingin construction, where the bolts are used to hold the plates in position in the form there are such a number of overlaps that the plates are stiifened and rendered quite rigid at the over- 25 lap. This allows the plates to be made of very thin material and yet have sufficient rigidity to properly support the concrete while it is being poured, tamped in the mold and while it sets. Therefore, on account of using such thin plates as my construction allows, the slight ridges or offsets in the face of the wall after the form is removed are not detrimental, in fact, these slight offsets function to aid the adherence of a surface finishing coat of material when such is used.

The proper spacing of the bolt holes 23 and the slots 26 locate the correct overlap of the plates when arranged in horizontal and vertical tiers independent of the flange l6 and the cut-out notch E9. However, this flange functions to stiffen the upper portion of each plate and when the plates are arranged in horizontal tiers as shown in Fig.

1 the ends of the flanges abut, that is, the end ll which is in alignment with the vertical edge 55 of one plate abuts the end l8 which is spaced by the distance of the notch [9 from the edge ill of the ends adjacent the plate. The main function of the tie wires 38 is to hold down the upper assembly of tiers of plates to a lower assembly which has been already formed, and give the whole form a suificient rigidity so that exterior bracing is not required. It is to be noted that the plates of an upper tier are readily assembled on those of a lower tier, as the slots 20 fit over the bolts passing through bolt holes 23.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims:

I claim:

l. A form for concrete walls built up of a plurality of plates each plate having parallel upper and lower edges and parallel side edges and each plate having a bolt hole adjacent each upper corner and slots parallel to the side edges adjacent 65 the lower corners and extending upwardly from the lower edge, the bolt holes and slots being spaced the same distance from the adjacent side edge and the length of the slots being the same as the spacing of the bolt holes from the upper edge, bolts extending through the bolt holes of the plates on one side of the wall tobolt holes on a plate on the opposite side and bolts extending through the slots of a plate on one side through the slots of a plate on the other side of the form to form two horizontal tiers of plates in parallel spaced relation.

2. A form as claimed in claim 1, said form having in addition, a vertical tier of plates having similar bolt holes and slots, the slots of the plates of an upper tier extending over and resting on the bolts extending through the bolt holes of a lower tier.

3. A form as claimed in claim 1, each plate having a reinforcing flange parallel to its upper and lower edges the end of such flange being flush with one side edge of the plate, there being a notch in the flange at the opposite end of the flange spacing the end of the flange adjacent the notch twice the distance from its adjacent edge as the distance of the adjacent bolt hole of such adjacent edge whereby in a horizontal tier of plates, the ends of flanges on adjacent plates abut.

4. A form for molding concrete walls built up of a plurality of individual metal plates, said plates having parallel upper and lower edges and vertical side edges, the upper edgeshaving an outwardly bent horizontal flange on each plate, the

lower edge of each plate having a pair of vertical slots adjacent the lower corners, each plate having bolt holes adjacent its upper corners, the plates being arranged in horizontal tiers with an overlap and in vertically aligned rows with a horizontal overlap, tie bolts extending through the slots and bolt holes and attaching plates of the opposite sides of the wall together, the bolts through the slots in the upper plates passing through the bolt holes of a lower plate, and spacing tubes encasing each bolt and engaging the inside surface of opposite plates, each of the horizontally extending flanges having a cut-out notch, the plates having a vertical overlap the length of the notches whereby the flanges abut.

5. A form for molding concrete walls as claimed in claim 4, tie wires secured to the spacing tubes adjacent the upper edge of the lower tier of plates and secured to the spacing tubes at the upper edge of the next adjacent upper plates to hold the tiers 20 of plates assembled.

BASCOM E. SIMPSON. 

